Pom History

Photo: Of course, the Pomeranian pre-20th century was a great deal larger than the dog we know today, averaging about 14 kilograms. Whereas, today's Australian Exhibition Pomeranian weighs between 1.8 to 2.5 kilograms!

An interesting fact of this breed, is that the female should weigh more (be larger) than the male. The Australian National Kennel Club Breed Standard states - while there is NO HEIGHT STIPULATION this breed standard it does state "the perfect weight range of the male Pomeranian is between 1.8 to 2.0 kilograms" (4.0 to 4.5 pounds) with the female's perfect weight range, being 2.0 to 2.5 kilograms (4.5 to 5.5 pounds).

Marie Antoinette, Emile Zola and Mozart all owned Pomeranians.

In the late 1800's Queen Victoria became a Pomeranian fancier, and established her own kennel for their breeding. She showed her dogs, with some success, making the breed very popular in England.

Because Queen Victoria preferred smaller dogs, many breeders began selecting for smaller size.

CRUFTS, A POMERANIAN HISTORY..click picture left to view this informative documentary.

The tiny Pomeranian is a member of one of the oldest groups of dogs known - the Neolithic times are very similar to the present day spitz breeds and remains of spitz-type dogs have been found throughout Asia, in the Pacific Islands and the African interior. The spitz type has been identified in Egyptian drawings from the time of the pharaohs and representations have been found in ancient Mycenae and Italy. Remains have also been discovered in the Celtic settlement of Siggenthal and the Roman colony of Vindonissa.

The Pomeranian was probably the first spitz breed to arrive in England, and was definitely known by the late 18th century. Around the 1770s Thomas Gainsborough pained three pictures featuring the breed - Pomeranian Bitch and Puppy, The Morning Walk and Mrs Perdita Robinson - and all three paintings show large, while, spitz-type dogs.

Royal Doulton issued a figurine around this time called "Welcome Home" showing a small girl being welcomed by her Pomeranian; this figurine has been re-issued.

The Pomeranian certainly seems to have a very early traceable history which can be divided into three periods -
1. Prehistoric2. European; and
3. Modern, dating from the 18th century onwards.

There is no doubt that the Pomeranian is descended from the Wolf Spitz of the northern climes. These include a variety of dogs like the Eskimo and Kamtchadales, the Laika family found in Russia, and the white Samoyed dogs, which belonged to a tribe living in the northwest regions of Siberia. All these Wolf Spitz dogs were used for drawing sledges and for guarding and rounding up herds of reindeer. The Samoyeds were of all colours and the white variety came from early crosses with the White Artic Wolf.

It's interesting just how the Pomeranians got their name, which was only given them in the last century. There is a state called Pomerania, which is situated on the eastern side of Germany near Poland. In this state there is a province called Samogitia. The inhabitants of Samogitia arrived from Finland centuries ago and settled in the area, no doubt bringing their Spitz dogs with them. A number of these were known as Pommer. It's interesting that in Sweden they were known as Pommerska Spetsen, and in England in 1803 as 'Fox Dogs'.

In appearance, all the Wolf Spitz breeds of dog have kept their original wolf-like characteristics. These include the prick ears, the abundant thick coats with the harsh guard hairs and the typical wedge-shaped head and the tail lying over the back.

It's astonishing how much the breed has changed in size in two hundred years, as is seen in George IV's Pomeranian by Stubbs painting. The Pomeranian was bred smaller and smaller, so that by 1915 the large Pomeranian was no longer exhibited in England.

Mozart had a Pomeranian called ‘Pimperl’ he wrote an aria to express his true love for his beloved Pom.

The great Genius, Sir Isaac Newton, owned a Pomeranian called ‘Diamond’.

Michelangelo also owned a Pomeranian and often had him with him while painting the ceiling of the Sistine Chapel.

Many famous paintings have included the Pomeranian, for instance - Pomeranian and Puppy and Mrs Robinson & Pomeranian by Gainsborough. Gainsborough added the same dog to many of his pictures, the dog is white and of the size they used to be.

Only two dogs survived the sinking of the Titanic and one was a Pomeranian owned by Miss Margaret Hayes of New York who boarded lifeboat no 7 with her Pom

On May 1st 1907, The British Pomeranian Club held its first show; it was held in England, Belle Vue Manchester

Have you heard the Pomeranian song by Nancy Simmons? It's all about her Pomeranian and why everyone should get a Pom. You can purchase it on the Internet...http://www.lyrics.com/nancysimmonds